Legacy of Leaders: College of Agriculture

In honor of Founders Week, an outstanding student and alum from each college are rewarded for their success, excellence and leadership. The blog will feature a different college each day during Founders Week, April 4-13, 2014.

Today we recognize two women from the College of Business who know the meaning of hard work and have a passion for helping others

Distinguished Alumna: Trena Kimler-Richards

The example of her family’s work ethic in Hallmark and candy stores led Trena Kimler-Richards to success in and outside of the classroom.

Kimler-Richards, whose family also owned ranches and feed stores, was a member of the Nevada Union High School Future Farmers program. After graduating from Chico State, she went on to teach at Red Bluff High School. She returned to Chico State as a lecturer and outreach specialist and now teaches agricultural courses at Shasta College.

Kimler-Richards, who has been teaching in agriculture for more than 20 years, has been considered a standout teacher for years, receiving numerous awards including the Teacher of Excellence Award form the California Agricultural Teachers Association (CATA) in 2010.

Student: Taylor Herren

Another member of Future Farmers of America is the Outstanding Student Award recipient for the College of Agriculture, Taylor Herren.

Herren is the Associated Student President for the 2013–14 school year, just one of the many ways she got involved during her time at Chico State. Some of her other positions include

-member of the Alpha Zeta honor society

-director of community programs at Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE)

-member of the Pre-Vet Club

After Herren graduates this spring, she will intern at the California Department of Food and Agriculture and then return to campus in the fall to work toward a master’s degree in genetics.

Herren hopes to head down a similar path as this year’s Distinguished Alumna from the College of Agriculture, and become a professor.